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7231644 
Journal Article 
Nurse-led versus doctor-led preoperative assessment for elective surgical patients requiring regional or general anaesthesia 
Nicholson, A; Coldwell, CH; Lewis, , SR; Smith, AF; , 
2013 
Yes 
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
ISSN: 1469-493X 
English 
24218062 
The organization of elective surgical services has changed in recent years, with increasing use of day surgery, reduced hospital stay and preoperative assessment (POA) performed in an outpatient clinic rather than by a doctor in a hospital ward after admission. Nurse specialists often lead these clinic-based POA services and have responsibility for assessing a patient's fitness for anaesthesia and surgery and organizing any necessary investigations or referrals. These changes offer many potential benefits for patients, but it is important to demonstrate that standards of patient care are maintained as nurses take on these responsibilities.